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Douglas et al.: Criminal Proling from Crime Scene Analysis
victim, ! to commit additional acts with the body, and ! to dispose of thebody. The time of day or night that the crime was committed is also important,as it may provide information on the lifestyle and occupation of the suspect andalso relates to the offender risk factor!. For example, the longer an offenderstays with his victim, the more likely it is he will be apprehended at the crimescene. in the case of the New York murder of Kitty Genovese, the killer carriedon his murderous assault to the point where many people heard or witnessed thecrime, leading to his eventual prosecution. A killer who intends to spend timewith his victim therefore must select a location to preclude observation, or one
with which he is familiar.
Location Factorslnforrnation about location-where the victim was rst approached, where thecrime occurred, and if the crime and death scenes differ-provide yet additionaldata about the offender. For example, such information provides details aboutwhether the murderer used a vehicle to transport the victim from the death scene
or if the victim died at her point of abduction.
3. Crime Assessment Stage
The Crime Assessment Stage in generating a criminal prole involves thereconstruction of the sequence of events and the behavior of both the offender
and victim. Based on the various decisions of the previous stage, this recon-stnrction of how things happened, how people behaved, and how they plannedand organized the encounter provides information about specic characteristicsto be generated for the criminal prole. Assessments are made about the clas-sication of the crime, its organized/disorganized aspects, the offender's selectionof a victim, strategies used to control the victim, the sequence of crime, thestaging or not! of the crime, the offender's motivation for the crime, and crime
scene dynamics.The classication of the crime is determined through the decision processoutlined in the rst decision process model. The classication of a crime asorganized or disorganized, rst introduced as classication of Lust murder Ha-zelwood & Douglas, 1980!, but since broadly expanded, includes factors suchas victim selection, strategies to control the victim, and sequence of the crime.An organized murderer is one who appears to plan his murders, target his victims,display control at the crime scene, and act out a violent fantasy against the victim sex, dismemberment, torture!. For example, Ted Bundys planning was notedthrough his successful abduction of young women from highly visible areas
e.g., beaches, campuses, a ski lodge!. He selected victims who were young,attractive, and similar in appearance. His control of the victim was initiallythrough clever manipulation and later physical force. These dynamics were
important in the development of a desired fantasy victim.ln contrast, the disorganized murderer is less apt to plan his crime in detail,
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obtains victims by chance. and behaves haphazardly during the crime. For ex-ample, Herben Mullin of Santa Cruz, California. who killed I4 people of varyingtypes e. g., an elderly man. a young girl, a priest! over a four-month period.did not display any specic planning or targeting of victims; rather, the victimswere people who happened to cross his path, and their killings were based on
psychotic impulses as well as on fantasy.The determination of whether or not the crime was staged i.e., if the subjectwas truly careless or disorganized. or if he made the crime appear that way todistract or mislead the police! helps direct the investigative proler to the killer'smotivation. In one case. a I6-year-old high school junior living in a small townfailed to retum home from school. Police, responding to the father's report ofhis missing daughter, began their investigation and located the victim's scatteredclothing in a remote area outside the town. A crude map was also found at thescene which seemingly implied a premeditated plan of kidnaping. The policefollowed the map to a location which indicated a body may have been disposedof in a nearby river. Written and telephoned extortion demands were sent to thefather. a bank executive, for the sum of $80,000, indicating that a kidnap wasthe basis of the abduction. The demands wamed police in detail not to use
electronic monitoring devices during their investigative efforts.Was this crime staged? The question was answered in two ways. The detailsin one aspect of the crime scattered clothing and tire tracks! indicated thatsubject was purposely staging a crime while the details in the other extortion!led the prolers to speculate who the subject was; specically that he had a lawenforcement background and therefore had knowledge of police procedures con-ceming crimes of kidnaping, hiding the primary intent of sexual assault andpossible murder. With this information, the investigative prolers recommendedthat communication continue between the suspect and the police, with the hy-pothesis that the behavior would escalate and the subject become bolder.While further communications with the family were being monitored, prolersfrom the FBls Behavioral Science Unit theorized that the subject of the case
was a white male who was single, in his late 20's to early 30s, unemployed,and who had been employed as a law enforcement ofcer within the past year.He would be a macho outdoors type person who drove a late model, wellmaintained vehicle with a CB radio. The car would have the overall appearance
of a police vehicle.As the prole was developed. the FBI continued to monitor the extortiontelephone calls made to the family by the subject. The investigation, based onthe prole, narrowed to two local men, both of whom were former police ofcers.One suspect was eliminated, but the FBI became very interested in the othersince he t the general prole previously developed. This individual was placedunder surveillance. He tumed out to be a single, white male who was previouslyemployed locally as a police ofcer. He was now unemployed and drove a carconsistent with the FBI prole. He was observed making a call from a telephonebooth, and after hanging up, he taped a note under the telephone. The call wastraced to the residence of the victim's family. The caller had given instructions
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for the family to proceed to the phone booth the suspect had been observed in.
The instructions will be taped there, stated the caller.
The body of the victim was actually found a considerable distance from the
"staged" crime scene, and the extortion calls were a diversion to intentionally
lead the police investigation away from the sexually motivated crime of rape-
murder. The subject never intended to collect the ransom money, but he felt that
the diversion would throw the police off and take him from the focus of the
rape-murder inquiry. The subject was subsequently arrested and convicted of
this crime.
Motivation
Motivation is a difcult factor to judge because it requires dealing with the
inner thoughts and behavior of the offender. Motivation is more easily determined
in the organized offender who premeditates, plans, and has the ability to carry
out a plan of action that is logical and complete. On the other hand, the disor-
ganized offender carries out his crimes by motivations that frequently are derived
from mental illnesses and accompanying distorted thinking resulting from de-
lusions and hallucinations!. Drugs and alcohol, as well as panic and stress
resulting from disruptions during the execution of the crime, are factors which
must be considered in the overall assessment of the crime scene.
Crime Scene Dynamics
Crime scene dynamics are the numerous elements common to every crime
scene which must be interpreted by investigating ofcers and are at times easily
misunderstood. Examples include location of crime scene, cause of death, method
of killing, positioning of body, excessive trauma, and location of wounds.
The investigative proler reads the dynamics of a crime scene and interprets
them based on his experience with similar cases where the outcome is known.
Extensive research by the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy and in-
depth interviews with incarcerated felons who have committed such crimes have
provided a vast body of knowledge of common threads that link crime scene
dynamics to specic criminal personality pattems. For example, a common error
of some police investigators is to assess a particularly brutal lust-mutilation
murder as the work of a sex end and to direct the investigation toward known
ffsex o enders when such crimes are commonly perpetrated by youthful individ-
uals with no criminal record.
4. Criminal Prole Stage
The fourth stage in generating a criminal prole deals with the type of person
who committed the crime and that individuals behavioral organization with
relation to the crime. Once this description is generated, the strategy of inves-
tigation can be formulated, as this strategy requires a basic understanding of
how an individual will respond to a variety of investigative efforts.
Included in the criminal prole are background information demographics!,
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physical characteristics, habits, beliefs and values, preoffense behavior leading
to the crime, and post-offense behavior. It may also include investigative rec»
ommendations for interrogating or interviewing, identifying, and apprehending
the offender.This fourth stage has an important means of validating the criminal proleFeedback No. l. The prole must t with the earlier reconstruction of the crime,
with the evidence, and with the key decision process models. In addition, theinvestigative procedure developed from the recommendations must make sense
in terms of the expected response pattems of the offender. If there is a lack ofcongruence, the investigative prolers review all available data. As Hercule
Poirot observed, To know is to have all of the evidence and facts t into place."
5. Investigation Stage
Once the congruence of the criminal prole is determined, a written report is
provided to the requesting agency and added to its ongoing investigative efforts.
The investigative recommendations generated in Stage 4 are applied, and suspectsmatching the prole are evaluated. If identication, apprehension, and a confes-
sion result, the goal of the prole effort has been met. If new evidence is generated e.g., by another murder! and/or there is no identication of a suspect, reeval-
uation occurs via Feedback No. 2. The information is reexamined and the prole
revalidated.
6. Apprehension Stage
Once a suspect is apprehended, the agreement between the outcome and the
various stages in the prole-generating-process are examined. When an appre-
hended suspect admits guilt, it is important to conduct a detailed interview to
check the total proling process for validity.
CASE EXAMPLE
A young womans nude body was discovered at 3:00 p.m. on the roof landingof the apartment building where she lived. She had been badly beaten about the
face and strangled with the strap of her purse. Her nipples had been cut off after
death and placed on her chest. Scrawled in ink on the inside of her thigh was,
You can't stop me." The words Fuck you" were scrawled on her abdomen.
A pendant in the form of a Jewish sign Chai!, which she usually wore as agood luck piece around her neck, was missing and presumed taken by the
murderer. Her underpants had been pulled over her face; her nylons were removed
and very loosely tied around her wrists and ankles near a railing. The murderer
had placed symmetrically on either side of the victims head the pierced earrings
-she had been wearing. An umbrella and inkpen had been forced into the vagina
and a hair comb was placed in her pubic hair. The womans jaw and nose had
been broken and her molars loosened. She suffered multiple face fractures caused
by a blunt force. Cause of death was asphyxia by ligature pocketbook strap!
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strangulation. There were post-mortem bite marks on the victim's thighs, as well
as contusions, hemorrhages, and lacerations to the body. The killer also defecated
on the roof landing and covered it with the victim's clothing.The following discussion of this case in the context of the six stages of the
criminal-prole-generating process illustrates how this process works.
Proling Inputs
In terms of crime scene evidence, everything the offender used at the crime
scene belonged to the victim. Even the comb and the felt-tip pen used to write
on her body came from her purse. The offender apparently did not plan this
crime; he had no gun, ropes, or tape for the victim's mouth. He probably did
not even plan to encounter her that moming at that location. The crime sceneindicated a spontaneous event; in other words, the killer did not stalk or wait
for the victim. The crime scene differs from the death scene. The initial abduction
was on the stairwell; then the victim was taken to a more remote area.
Investigation of the victim revealed that the 26-year-old, 90-pound, 4'1 l" white
female awoke around 6:30 a.m. She dressed, had a breakfast of coffee and juice,
and left her apartment for work at a nearby day care center, where she wasemployed as a group teacher for handicapped children. She resided with her
mother and father. When she would leave for work in the morning, she would
take the elevator or walk down the stairs, depending on her mood. The victim
was a quiet young woman who had a slight curvature of the spine kyhoscoliosis!.The forensic information in the medical examiner's report was important indetermining the extent of the wounds, as well as how the victim was assaulted
and whether evidence of sexual assault was present or absent. No semen was
noted in the vagina, but semen was found on the body. It appeared that the
murderer stood directly over the victim and masturbated. There were visible bite
marks on the victim's thighs and knee area. He cut off her nipples with a knife
after she was dead and wrote on the body. Cause of death was strangulation.
rst manual, then ligature, with the strap of her purse. The fact that the murdererused a weapon of opportunity indicates that he did not prepare to commit thiscrime. He probably used his st to render her unconscious, which may be the
reason no one heard any screams. There were no deep stab wounds and the knife
used to mutilate the victim's breast apparently was not big, probably a penknifethat the offender nonnally carried. The killer used the victim's belts to tie her
right arm and right leg, but he apparently untied them in order to position the
body before he left.The preliminary police report revealed that another resident of the apartmentbuilding, a white male, aged l5, discovered the victim's wallet in a stairwell
between the third and fourth oors at approximately 8:20 a.m. He retained the
wallet until he retumed home from school for lunch that aftemoon. At that time,
he gave the wallet to his father, a white male, aged 40. The father went to the
victims apartment at 2:50 p.m. and gave the wallet to the victim's mother.
When the mother called the day care center to ll'lf0Tl her daughter about the
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wallet, she leamed that her daughter had not appeared for work that moming.The mother, the victim's sister, and a neighbor began a search of the buildingand discovered the body. The neighbor called the police. Police at the scenefound no witnesses who saw the victim after she left her apartment that morning.
Decision Process
This crimes style is a single homicide with the murderer's primary intentmaking it a sexually motivated type of crime. There was a degree of planningindicated by the organization and sophistication of the crime scene. The idea ofmurder had probably occupied the killer for a long period of time. The sexualfantasies may have started through the use and collecting of sadistic pomography
depicting torture and violent sexual acts.Victim risk assessment revealed that the victim was known to be very self-conscious about her physical handicap and size and she was a plain-lookingwoman who did not date. She led a reclusive life and was not the type of victimthat would or could ght an assailant or scream and yell. She would be easily
dominated and controlled, particularly in view of her small stature.Based upon the information on occupation and lifestyle, we have a low-risk
victim living in an area that was at low risk for violent crimes. The apartmentbuilding was part of a 23-building public housing project in which the racialmixture of residents was 50% black, 40% white, and 10% Hispanic. lt waslocated in the connes of a major police precinct. There had been no other similar
crimes reported in the victim's or nearoy complexes.The crime was considered very high risk for the offender. He committed the
crime in broad daylight, and there was a possibility that other people who wereup early might see him. There was no set pattem of the victim taking the stairwayor the elevator. It appeared that the victim happened to cross the path of the
offender.There was no escalation factor present in this crime scene. The time for thecrime was considerable. The amount of time the murderer spent with his victimincreased his risk of being apprehended. All his activities with the victim-removing her earrings, cutting off her nipples, masturbating over hertook a
substantial amount of time.The location of the crime suggested that the offender felt comfortable in thearea. He had been here before, and he felt that no one would interrupt the murder.
Crime Assessment
The crime scene indicated the murder was one event, not one of a series of
events. It also appeared to be a rst-time killing, and the subject was not atypical organized offender. There were elements of both disorganization and
organization; the offender might fall into a mixed category.A reconstruction of the crime/death scene provides an overall picture of the
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crime. To begin with, the victim was not necessarily stalked but instead con-
fronted. What was her reaction? Did she recognize her assailant, ght him off,
or try to get away? The subject had to kill her to carry out his sexually violent
fantasies. The murderer was on known territory and thus had a reason to be
there at 6:30 in the moming: either he resided there or he was employed at this
particular complex.The killer's control of the victim was through the use of blunt force trauma,
with the blow to her face the rst indication of his intention. It is probable the
victim was selected because she posed little or no threat to the offender. Because
she didn't ght, run, or scream, it appears that she did not perceive her abductor
as a threat. Either she knew him, had seen him before, or he looked nonthrea-
tening i.c. , he was dressed as a janitor, a postman, or businessman! and therefore
his presence in the apartment would not alarm his victim.
In the sequence of the crime, the killer rst rendered the victim unconscious
and possibly dead; he could easily pick her up because of her small size. He
took her up to the roof landing and had time to manipulate her body while she
was unconscious. He positioned the body, undressed her, acted out certain
fantasies which led to masturbation. The killer took his time at the scene, and
he probably knew that no one would come to the roof and disturb him in the
early moming since he was familiar with the area and had been there many times
in the past.
The crime scene was not staged. Sadistic ritualistic fantasy generated the sexual
motivation for murder. The murderer displayed total domination of the victim.
ln addition, he placed the victim in a degrading posture, which reected his lack
of remorse about the killing.
The crime scene dynamics of the covering of the killer's feces and his posi-
tioning of the body are incongruent and need to be interpreted. First, as previously
described, the crime was opportunistic. The crime scene portrayed the intricacies
of a long-standing murderous fantasy. Once the killer had a victim, he had a set
plan about killing and abusing the body. However, within the context of the
crime, the prolers note a paradox: the covered feces. Defecation was not part
of the ritual fantasy and thus it was covered. The presence of the feces also
supports the length of time taken for the crime, the control the murderer had
over the victim her unconscious state!, and the knowledge he would not be
interrupted.The positioning of the victim suggested the offender was acting out something
he had seen before, perhaps in a fantasy or in a sado-masochistic pomographic
magazine. Because the victim was unconscious, the killer did not need to tie
her hands. Yet he continued to tie her neck and strangle her. He positioned her
earrings in a ritualistic manner, and he wrote on her body. This reects some
sort of imagery that he probably had repeated over and over in his mind. He
took her necklace as a souvenir; perhaps to carry around in his pocket. The
investigative prolers noted that the body was positioned in the form of the
womans missing Jewish symbol.
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Douglas et al.: Criminal Proling from Crime Scene Analysis
Criminal Prole
Based on the information derived during the previous stages, a criminal proleof the murderer was generated. First, a physical description of the suspect statedthat he would be a white male, between 25 and 35, or the same general age asthe victim, and of average appearance. The murderer would not look out ofcontext in the area. He would be of average intelligence and would be a high-school or college dropout. He would not have a military history and may beunemployed. His occupation would be blue-collar or skilled. Alcohol or drugsdid not assume a major role, as the crime occurred in the early morning.The suspect would have difculty maintaining any kind of personal relation-ships with women. If he dated, he would date women younger than himself, ashe would have to be able to dominate and control in the relationships.He would be sexually inexperienced, sexually inadequate, and never married.He would have a pomography collection. The subject would have sadistic ten-dencies; the umbrella and the masturbation act are clearly acts of sexual substi-tution. The sexual acts showed controlled aggression, but rage or hatred of womenwas obviously present. The murderer was not reacting to rejection from women
as much as to morbid curiosity.In addressing the habits of the murderer, the prole revealed there would bee a reason for the killer to be at the crime scene at 6:30 in the morning. He couldbe employed in the apartment complex, be in the complex on business, or reside
in the complex.Although the offender might have preferred his victim conscious, he had torender her unconscious because he did not want to get caught. He did not want
the woman screaming for help.The murderers iniction of sexual, sadistic acts on an inanimate body suggestshe was disorganized. He probably would be a very confused person, possiblywith previous mental problems. If he had carried out such acts on a living victim,he would have a different type of personality. The fact that he inicted acts ona dead or unconscious person indicated his inability to function with a live or
conscious person.The crime scene reected that the killer felt justied in his actions and thathe felt no remorse. He was not subtle. He left the victim in a provocative,humiliating position, exactly the way he wanted her to be found. He challengedthe police in his message written on the victim; the messages also indicated the
subject might well kill again.1
Investigation
The crime received intense coverage by the local media because it was suchan extraordinary homicide. The local police responded to a radio call of ahomicide. They in tum notied the detective bureau, which notied the forensiccrime scene unit, medical examiner's ofce, and the county district attomeys
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ofce. A task force was immediately assembled of approximately 26 detectives
and supervisors.An intensive investigation resulted, which included speaking to, and inter-
viewing, over 2,000 people. Records checks of known sex offenders in the area
proved fruitless. Hand writing samples were taken of possible suspects to com-
pare with the writing on the body. Mental hospitals in the area were checked
for people who might fit the prole of this type killer.
The FBls Behavioral Science Unit was contacted to compile a prole. In the
prole, the investigation recommendation included that the offender knew that
the police sooner or later would contact him because he either worked or lived
in the building. The killer would somehow inject himself into the investigation,
and although he might appear cooperative to the extreme, he would really be
seeking information. ln addition, he might try to contact the victims family.
Apprehension
The outcome of the investigation was apprehension of a suspect l3 months
following the discovery of the victim's body. After receiving the criminal prole,
police reviewed their les of 22 suspects they had interviewed. One man stood
out. This suspects father lived down the hall in the same apartment building as
the victim. Police originally had interviewed his father, who told them his son
was a patient at the local psychiatric hospital. Police leamed later that the son
had been absent without permission from the hospital the day and evening prior
to the murder.
They also learned he was an unemployed actor who lived alone; his mother
had died of a stroke when he was 19 years old l l years previous!. He had had
academic problems of repeating a grade and dropped out of school. He was a
white, 30-year-old, never-married male who was an only child. His father was
a blue-collar worker who also was an ex-prize ghter. The suspect reportedly
had his amt in a cast at the time of the crime. A search of his room revealed a
pomography collection. He had never been in the military, had no girlfriends,
and was described as being insecure with women. The man suffered from depres-
sion and was receiving psychiatric treatment and hospitalization. He had a history
of repeated suicidal attempts hanging/asphyxiation! both before and after the
offense.
The suspect was tried, found guilty, and is serving a sentence from 25 years
to life for this mutilation murder. He denies committing the murder and states
he did not know the victim. Police proved that security was lax at the psychiatric
hospital in which the suspect was conned and that he could literally come and
go as he pleased. However, the most conclusive evidence against him at his trial
were his teeth impressions. Three separate forensic dentists, prominent in their
eld, conducted independent tests and all agreed that the suspects teeth impres-
sions matched the bite marks found on the victims body.
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CONCLUSION
Criminal personality proling has proven to be a useful tool to law enforcementin solving violent, apparently motiveless crimes. The process has aided signif-icantly in the solution of many cases over the past decade. It is believed thatthrough the research efforts of personnel in the FBIs National Center for theAnalysis of Violent Crime and professionals in other eld, the proling processwill continue to be rened and be a viable investigative aid to law enforcement.
REFERENCES
I968! Casebook of a crime prvchirurirr New York" Grove Brussel. J. S. . _ . . .Casey-Owens. M. I984!. The anonymous letter-writera psychological prole? Journal of Forensic Sciences.
29, BI6-819.Christie. A. I963!. The clock: pp. 227-228!. New York: Pocket Books.Geberth. V. J. I981. September!. Psychological proling. Law and Order. pp. 46-49.Hazelwood, R. R. I983. September!. The behavior-oriented interview of rape victims: 'I'he key to proling. FBI
Law Enforcement Bulletin. pp. I-8.I-Iazlewood. R. R. 8i Douglas. I . E. I980. April!. The lust murderer. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.Lunde. D. T. I976!. Murder and madness. San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Book Co.Miron. M. S.. 8: Douglas. J. E. I979. September!. Threat analysis: The psycltolinguistic approach. FBI Law
Enforcement Bulletin. pp. 5-9.I960! A Study ofmurder New York" Thomas Crowell Palmer. S. . . . .Reiser. M. I982. March!. Crime-specic psychological consultation. The Police Chief. pp. 53-56. ' ' h on homicideRessler. R. K.. Burgess. A. W.. Douglas. J. E.. & Depue. R. L. I985!. Cnminal proling rescue .In A W Burgess Ed ! Rape and sexual assault: A research handbook pp. 343-349!. New York: Garland.is Rider. A. 0.9 mo. June!. rm m=s=it=r= A psychological prole. pan I. FBI Law Enforcement Blllltllll, pp.
6-I3.Rizzo. N. D. I982!. Murder in Boston: Killers and their victims. liueriiarional Journal of Oeiider Therapy and
Comparative Criniinolagy. Z6 I!. 36-42.Rossi D. I982. January!. Crime scene behavioral analysis: Another tool for the law enforcement investigator.Dfci proceedings of the 88th Annual IACP Conference. The Police Chief. pp. I52-I55.Vorpagel. R. E. I982. January!. Painting psychological proles: Charlatanism. charisma. or a new science? Ofcial proceedings of the 88th Annual IACP Conference. The Police Chief. pp. I56-I59.
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The question remained as to
whether incarcerated offenders would
cooperate in such research. In order to
determine the feasibility of the intend-
ed study, a pilot proiect was undertak-
en. Crimes in which the FBI either has
primary jurisdiction or has traditionally
assisted local agencies by providing
technical assistance and special ex-
pertise, such as hostage/terrorism,
skyjacking, extortionlkidnaping, assas-
sination, and mass/multiple murder,
were targeted for study. Guidelines
were formulated in conjunction with the
Legal Instruction Unit of the FBI Acad-
emy.Eight convicted offenders were
then approached and asked if they
would be willing to be interviewed
about their crimes. They were long-
term incarcerated felons lodged in var-
ious State and Federal penitentiaries
and were selected for the gravity of
their violent crimes. The results were
very encouraging. Based on this re-
sponse, plans were developed for anE ; > ./= "»~: mi. v m
During the 1.979 Fiesta Parade in San Antonio.
Tex., a sniper, who was a former mental patient,
killed 2 persons and injured 51 others, including
13 children and 6 policemen. Photos depict
shooting scene and arsenal used by the
sniper. Insight into the psychologicalbehavior of persons involved in such crimes is
the overall goal of this research program.
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extended, ongoing systematic study of
convicted offenders in order to better
understand the patterns and dynamics
of criminal behavior. Sexual homicide
was selected as the initial area of pri-
mary focus and concentration because
it is a lethal type of crime that attracts a
great deal of public attention.
Background of FBI Profiling
For the past few years, efforts at
developing psychological profiles of
suspects for individual cases of sexual
assaultl homicide have been undertak-
en by members of the Behavioral Sci-
ence Unit. These cases were referred
to the unit by local police departments.
From the available evidence and infor-
mation, unit members developed a
psychological composite of the sus-
pect. The approach is one of brain-
storming, intuition, and educated
guesswork. The product was the result
of years of accumulated investigative
experience in the field and familiarityDr. Gro rh
with a large number of cases. No for-
mal data bank, however, has been de-
veloped against which new cases can
systematically be compared. Also,
there is little or no followup once an
offender has been successfully appre-
hended and convicted. Consequently,
there is very little subsequent input of
information which would serve to
sharpen and refine the existing body of
knowledge.
Given the opportunity to interview
identified offenders and realizing the
need to develop a protocol to insure
systematic retrieval of pertinent data,
the Training Division engaged the serv-
ices of Dr. A. Nicholas Groth and Dr.
Ann Wolbert Burgess, two experts in
the field of sexual assault who had
been conducting specialized police
schools on rape and child molestation
for law enforcement agents at the FBI
Academy. This professional affiliation
provided a multidisciplinary approach
to the study of the sex murderer, com-
bining contributions from both law en-
forcement and the behavioral
sciences.
From a review of the pertinent
literature and from the direct, firsthand
field experience and prior work of the
researchers, this team proceeded to
develop a data schedule for investiga-
tive inquiry and offender assessment.
31Special Agent Hess/er
This instrument provided not only
guidelines for interviewing subjects but
also a system of recording and coding
relevant data to permit computer anal-
ysis and retrieval. This protocol which
continues to undergo revision and re-
finement! is divided into five sections:
! Physical characteristics of the of-
fender, ! background development,
! offense data, ! victim data, and
! crime scene data. lt encompasses
the offender's physical description,
medicall psychiatric history, early home
life and upbringing, schooling, military
service, occupation/vocational history,
sexual development and marital histo-
ry, recreational interests, criminal histo-
ry, the characteristics of his offense,
modus operandi, victim selection, and
the scene of his crime.
Once the assessment schedule
had been designed, it was adminis-
tered to three groups of sexual offend-
erssex murderers, rapists and child
molesters, and sex offenders confined
to a mental health facility. During the
first year 979! of the study, interviews
with 26 men who were convicted of a
v
Special Agent Doug/as
sex-related homicide and were incar-
cerated in various institutions across
the country were completed. The sec-
ond grouprapists and child molesters
incarcerated in a maximum security
prisonconsisted of approximately
125 adult male offenders who were
administered the interview schedule.
These subjects were equally divided
between those who had sexually as-
saulted adults and those who had sex-
ually assaulted children. Sex offenders
committed to a security treatment
mental health! facility following con-
viction but prior to disposition com-
prised the third group. Approximately
1O0 men were interviewed, again
equally divided between rapists and
child molesters.
Computer programs were then
written to process the data. lt is antici-
pated that as this body of data accu-
mulates, it will provide information
about a number of issues pertaining to
the sexual offender.Edmund E. Kemper, a mass murderer, is
interviewed by SA Doug/as.
Interestingly, institution officials
have been supportive of the research
investigation efforts, and the offenders
themselves have been very receptive
to our solicitation for their help and
participation in this study. Although a
few have denied or minimized their
culpability, the majority have provided
information consistent with the known
facts of the case.
What prompts convicted offenders
to cooperate with law enforcement
agents? A variety of reasons exist. For
those troubled by what they have
done, cooperation may be an effort to
gain some perspective and under-
standing of their behavior or an effort
to compensate and make some type of
restitution. Others, especially if they
feel forgotten or ignored, may respond
to the fact that someone is paying
attention and showing some interest in
them. A selected number of multiple
murderers appear to be fascinated with
law enforcement, as evidenced by their
attempts to become identified with the
profession, i.e., posing as law enforce-
ment officers, holding positions such
as security guards or auxiliary police,
etc. These offenders welcome an op-
portunity to again associate them-
selves with investigative efforts. Some
may expect that cooperation will result
in favors or benefits; others may feel
32ti;
-=95 Q
Selected inmates of the Oregon Stale Peni-
tentiary participated in the research program.
nothing to lose, since all
app83lS have been exhausted
realistic hope for parole or
exists. Finally, others may par-
in the study because it pro-an opportunity to dwell on and
the fantasies, memories, and
feelings of the original
Whatever their reasons, noble
healthy or pathological, each
own way contributes somethingunderstanding the variety and
of this category of crime.
Procedure
The reliability and the validity of
data retrieved from the study of
offenders will ultimately be test-
by the accuracy with which predec-
offender profiles! derived from
this data pool are fulfilled. lt is from
these data that various types of offend-
er profiles are beginning to emerge.Although no two offenders are exactlyalike, and there is a wide range of
individual differences found among of-
fenders who commit similar offenses,
they also share some similarities or
common traits. it will be both these
important differences and the impor-
tant similarities that serve to differenti-
ate and identify different kinds or
specific types of offenders within the
same offense category.
Goals and Purposes of Program
This criminal personality researchprogram is designed to contribute to
advances in the study of sexual homi-
cidea subject about which little de-
pendable information is currently
available-by establishing a national
data bank from which reliable informa-
tion can be retrieved. From the data
derived from this research, offenderprofiles will be developed based on
identifiable behaviors, traits, and char-
acteristics. The profiles, in turn, will aid
local law enforcement agencies in the
investigation of the crime and the iden-
tification and apprehension of offend-
ers. in addition, such profiles and
related information will sen/e to im-
prove interrogation techniques and in-
terviewing skills and to identify those
techniques which will be most produc-
tive with each type of offender.Knowledge gleaned from this re-
search will have important implications
. . . an extended,
ongoing systematicstudy of convicted
offenders [was
initiated] in order to
better understand the
patterns and dynamics
of criminal behavior
for crime prevention by identifying im-portant biopsychosocial factors of an
offender. lt will assist by attempting to
provide answers to such questions as:
1! What leads a person to become
a sexual offender and what are the
early warning signals?2! What sen/es to encourage or to
inhibit the commission of his offense?
3! What types of response or cop-
ing strategies by an intended victim are
successful with what type of sexual
offender in avoiding victimization?4! What are the implications for his
dangerousness, prognosis, disposition,
and mode of treatment?
Current emphasis is on the rape-
murderer, since the Training Division
receives annually close to 100 un-
solved, sex-related homicides for re-
view and analysis. This research
program is envisioned as ultimately ex-panding to encompass a broader vari-
ety of felony crimes to include
hostagetaking and techniques to im-
prove hostage negotiation. A further
benefit will be the improvement of
techniques of interviewing, interroga-
tion, and informant targeting in criminal
and espionage matters. The present
33study, which addresses sexual assault,
is unique in that it represents the com-
bined approaches of law enforce-
ment/criminal justice and bQh3VlOf8l
science/mental health professionals,as well as active participation and di-
rect contribution from convicted felons,
to combat this major type of serious
crime. FBI
FootnoteFiichard L. Ault, Jr. and James T. Fieese. APsychological Assessment of Crime: Profiling." FBI LawEnforcement Bulletin, vol. 49, No. 3, March 1980, pp.
22-25.
Editor's Note: As an adjunct to its
programs in abnormal ~-
the Behavioral Science
FBI Academy, Ouantico, Va., has
to assist the /aw
enforcement community in the
of psychological proles in
unsolved criminal cases. A
Psychological Assessment of Crime."
Profiling" is the introductory article in a
three-part series of reports on the use
at psychological criminal analysis as
an investigative technique. Subsequent
articles will feature the specic
application of this technique to lust
murderer and arson-for-profit
investigations.
,/-..2 Teelblmicgmes
Special Agents
Behavioral Science Unit
_ FBlAcademy, Ouantico, Va.
During the summer of 1979, a
woman in a suburban city on the east
coast reported to the police that she
had been raped. After learning the
facts of this case, the investigating offi-
cer realized that this was the seventh
rape within the past 2 years wherein
the same modus operandi was used.
There were no investigative leads re-
maining in any of these incidents. The
investigation conducted thus far had
yielded no suspect.
l mu! W-....
I»
A-i..A Psychological
Assessment of Crime
PRO FILING
By RICHARD L. AULT, JR. and JAMES T. REESE
The incident reports, together with
transcripts of interviews with the vic-
tims, were forwarded to the FBI Train-
ing Division with a request from the
police department that a psychological
prole of the suspect or suspects be
provided. After careful examination of
the submitted materials by the FBI
Academys Behavioral Science Unit, a
psychological profile was constructed
and provided to the requesting agency.
The Behavioral Science Unit advised
that these rapes were probably com-
mitted by the same person and de-
scribed him as a white male, 25 to 35
years of age most likely late 20's or
Published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S.. Department of Justice!Dr92rvr92in?DI" Frnm the FRI Law Enforcement Bulletin, March, 1980
early 30s!, divorced or separated,
working at marginal employment la-
borer, etc.!, high school education,
poor self-image, living in the immediate
area of the rapes, and being involved
in crimes of voyeurism peeping tom!.
It was likely that the police had talked
to the rapist in the past due to his being
on the streets in the neighborhood in
the early morning hours.
Three days after receiving the pro-
file provided to them, the requesting
agency developed approximately 40
suspects in the neighborhood who met
the age criteria. Using additional infor-
mation in the profile, they narrowed
their investigation to one individual and
focused their investigation on him. He
was arrested within a week. This case
demonstrates how psychological profil-
ing can be of assistance.
The role of the police officer in
American society has never been ac-
curately defined. Daily, it seems, police
are burdened with new responsibilities
and are required to be experts in re-
sponsibilities already assigned to
them. There has, in recent years,
been an increase in the publics aware-
ness of the nature of police work. This
additional insight has been provided
primarily through the use of the media
TV, books, newspapers!; however,
this awareness is largely focused upon
the police function of investigating
crimes. Studies have indicated that
criminal investigations actually occupy
less than 15 percent of the police de-
partment's time. The irony of this is
that the function of investigating and
solving crimes is extremely important
to the public at large and is a major
gage by which departments are rated
by city officials who provide funding.
This is especially true when a crime is
committed which is so bizarre and
shocking to the community that the
public demands swift and positive
action.¥
As the crime rate grows in this
country and the criminals become
more sophisticated, the investigative
tools of the police officer must also
become more sophisticated. One such
sophisticated tool does exist and may
help answer the question commonly
voiced by police and others at the
scene of a violent crime, Who would
do a thing like this?" This tool is the
psychological assessment of crime-
profiling.
The solution of crimes is the most
difficult task for the police. The officer
must arrive at the scene of a crime,
work backward in an effort to recon-
struct that crime, formulate a hypoth-
esis of what occurred, and then launch
an orderly and logical investigation to
determine the identity of the criminal.
During this process, items of evidence
are carefully collected, identified, ini-
tialed, logged, and packaged for later
examination, perhaps under laboratory
conditions.
The purpose of this article is to
acquaint the police officer with the fact
that there are certain clues at a crime
scene which, by their very nature, do
not lend themselves to being collected
or examined, and to familiarize the offi-
cer with the concepts of profiling.
Clues left at a crime scene may be of
inestimable value in leading to the so-
lution of the crime; however, they are
not necessarily items of physical evi-
dence. For example, how does a police
officer collect rage, hatred, fear, love,
irrationality, or other intangibles?
These aspects may be present at the
crime scene but the untrained officer
will miss them. Nothing can take the
place of a well-executed investigation;
however, the use of psychology to as-
sist in the assessment of a crime is an
additional tool which the police officer
should use in solving crimes.
The purpose of the psychological
assessment of a crime scene is to
produce a profile; that is, to identify
and interpret certain items of evidence
at the crime scene which would be
indicative of the personality type of the
individual or individuals committing the
crime. The term profile is defined in
Webster's Dictionary of the American
Language U968! as a short, vivid
36biography briefly outlining the most
outstanding characteristics of the sub.
ject. The goal of the profiler is to
provide enough information to lnvesti.
gators to enable them to limit or better
direct their investigations. For example,
in one case, a profile provided enough
information that officers recalled an in.
dividual whom they had already ques.
tioned that fit the profile description.
When they returned to the individual
he confessed.
The officer must bear in mind that
the profile is not an exact science and
a suspect who fits the description is
not automatically guilty. The use of
profiling does not replace sound inves-
tigative procedures.
Profiling is not a new concept.
During World War ll, the Office of Stra-
tegic Services OSS! employed a psy-
chiatrist, William Langer, to profile
Adolf Hitler. Langer assembled all that
was known about Hitler at the time,
and based upon the information he
received, attempted a long-range di-
agnosis," as well as some predictions
about how Hitler would react to
defeat.
Police officers are often carefully
trained in the techniques of crime
scene searches. Forensic scientists
constantly provide law enforcement
personnel with the results of research
which enable officers to maintain and
update skills in gathering physical evi-
dence. The concept of profiling works
in harmony with the search for physical
evidence. Behavioral scientists are
busy in their attempts to research and
catalog nonphysical items of evidence,
such as rage, hatred, fear, and love.
However, these attempts are usually
oriented toward therapy rather than fo-
rensic applications? Nonetheless, the
results may be applied to teach police
officers to recognize the existence of
these emotions and other personality
traits in a crime scene. Once recog-
nized, police may then construct a pro-
file of the type of person who might
possess these emotions and/or per-
sonality traits.,.,. Q ,,".;
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The basis for profiling is nothing
than the understanding of current
of behavioral sciences, such
psychology, sociology, criminology,
political science.
Behaviorial science is, at best, an
science. lt is often referred to
as an art form."6 However, its use
does have validity in law enforcement.
Human behavior is much too complex
to classify, yet attempts are often
made to do so with the hope that such
a vastly complicated system can be
brought into some control. The Diag-
nostic and Statistic Manual of Mental
Disorders DSM ll!, used by mental
health professionals, is one example of
this attempt. While attempts to neatly
classify behavior are mostly unsuc-
cessful, one must remember why these
attempts are made. There are many
types of normal and "abnormal" be-
havior. Many of these behaviors may
have a label attached to them by be-
havioral scientists. It is most important
to bear in mind that such a label is
merely an abbreviated way to describe
a behavior pattern. lt is nothing more
than a convenience by which profes-
sionals communicate. The important
aspect is the specific characteristics or
symptoms of each person. The symp-
toms are revealed in the way the indi-
vidual acts out" and in the responses
which the individual may make to the
professional. The labels may differ
from doctor to doctor because they are
simply each doctors interpretation of
the symptom.
A symptom, then, is the visible
evidence of a disease or disturb-
ance,"° and a crime, particularly a bi-
zarre crime, is as much a symptom as
any other type of acting out by an
individual. A crime may reflect the
personality characteristics of the per-
petrator in much the same fashion as
the way we keep and decorate our
homes reflects something about our
personality. °A crime scene is usually confined
to the area in which the crime was
committed. For the purposes of this
article, the term crime scene includes
the following: The scene of the crime;
the victim of the crime, as in the case
of rape; and all other locations involved
in the crime, including such areas as
the recovery site when a homicide is
committed in one location and the
body deposited in another.
The victim is one of the most im-
portant aspects of the psychological
profile. ln cases involving a surviving
victim, particularly a rape victim, the
perpetrators exact conversation with
the victim is of utmost importance and
can play a very large role in the con-
struction of an accurate profile.
The profile is not all inclusive and
does not always provide the same in-
formation from one profile to another. It
is based on what was or was not left at
the crime scene. Since the amount of
psychological evidence varies, as does
physical evidence, the profile may also
vary. The profile information may
include:
1! The perpetrators race,
2! Sex,
3! Age range,
4! Marital status,
5! General employment,
6! Fteaction to questioning by
police,
7! Degree of sexual maturity,
8! Whether the individual might
strike again,
9! The possibility that he/she has
committed a similar offense in the past,
and
10! Possible police record.
These profiles are not the result of
magical incantations and are not al-
ways accurate. lt is the application of
behavioral science theory and re-
search to the profilers knowledge of
patterns which may be present at var-
ious crime scenes. lt is important that
the profiler have wide exposure to
crime scenes so that he may see that
these patterns may exist. lt is also
important that the individual attempting
to profile crime scenes have some ex-
posure to those criminals who have
committed similar crimes.
37The entire basis for a good profile
is a good crime scene examination and
adequate inten/iews of victims and wit-
nesses. When officers find individuals
who are willing to attempt psychologi-
cal evaluations of crime scenes, they
often ask the profiler what materials
should be sent to him. Necessary
items for a psychological profile
include:
1! Complete photographs of the
crime scene, including photographs of
the victim if it is a homicide. Also help-
ful is some means of determining the
angle from which the photographs
were taken and a general description
of the immediate area. One enterpris-
ing police officer developed the excel-
lent technique of photocopying his
crime scene sketch, attaching one
copy to each photo, and then outlining
in red the area which was included in
the photograph.
2! The completed autopsy proto-
col including, if possible, any results of
lab tests which were done on the
victim.
3! A complete report of the inci-
dent to include such standard details
as date and time of offense, location
by town as well as by actual site of
incident!, weapon used if known!, in-
vestigative officers reconstruction of
the sequence of events if any!, and a
detailed interview of any surviving vic-
tims or witnesses. These items are
usually a part of all investigations and
do not generally require extra report
writing or extra written material. Also
included in most investigative reports is
background information on the vic-
tim s!. Yet, this seems to be the area
where the least amount of information
is available to the profiler. Usually, this
is because the investigative officer
cannot possibly write down all of the
many details concerning the victim
which he collects while investigating
the crime.
When the investigator provides in-
formation concerning a victim to a pro-
filer, some items which the officer
should include are:
1! Occupation former and pres-
ent!,
2! Residence former and pres-
ent!,
3! Reputation, at work and in his
neighborhood,
4! Physical description, including
dress at the time of the incident,
5! Marital status, including children
and close family members,
6! Educational level,
7! Financial status, past and pres-
ent,
8! Information and background of
victim's family and parents, including
victims relationship with parent,
9! Medical history, both physical
and mental,
10! Fears,
11! Personal habits,
12! Social habits,
13! Use of alcohol and drugs,
14! Hobbies,
15! Friends and enemies,
16! Recent changes in life-
style, and
17! Recent court action.
The primary psychological evi-
dence which the profiler is looking for
is motive. After a survey of the evi-
dence, the profiler applies an age-old
rule known as ockhams razor" which,
originally stated, is "what can be done
with fewer assumptions is done in vain
with more. 2 This 14th century
philosophy has, in investigative circles,
generally come to mean that given a
problem with several alternative solu-
tions, the most obvious answer is
usually correct. An aid to the applica-
tion of ockhams razor is the intangible
evidence that the observer gathers
from the crime scene to tell him such
things as whether the crime appears to
be planned or whether it is the result of
an irrational thought process.Profiling is a valuable investigative
tool but is not a magical process.
Police officers do a great deal of pro-
filing during the course of their work
days. They constantly build mental
images or profiles based upon crime
scenes and then use these profiles in
an attempt to limit the scope of their
investigations. These profiles are
based upon the officers extensive
knowledge of the type of crime he is
investigating. When a crime so bizarre
that it is out of the scope of the
officer's experience occurs, there are
behavioral scientists available who can
assist by providing these types of pro-
files. The FBI provides limited service
in the area of profiling and these limita-
tions are based on the amount of time
and manpower available to conduct
such profiles.
Instruction is the primary purpose
of the Behavioral Science Unit of the
FBl Training Division. Courses in ap-
plied criminology, abnormal psy-
chology, sociology, hostage negotia-
tions, interpersonal violence, and other
behavioral science-related areas are
taught at the Academy to FBI Agents
and police officers. ln the past, as an
adjunct to its instructional programs,
the Training Division has attempted to
assist law enforcement agencies with
the preparation of psychological pro-
files. During the initial stages of the
FBls involvement in profiling, these
profiles were limited to students at-
tending the FBl National Academy.
During the past year, how-
ever, over 100 unsolved cases have
been received by the Training Division
from law enforcement officers nation-
wide. Due to increased instructional
and research commitments, it was
necessary to implement guidelines and
control measures to manage and moni-
tor effectively this investigative
technique.
lt is most important that this inves-
tigative technique be confined chiefly
to crimes against the person where the
motive is lacking and where there is
sufficient data to recognize the pres-
ence of psychopathology at the crime
scene. Psychological analysis is not a
substitute for basic investigative princi-
38ples, and all logical leads must be
exhausted before requesting this Serv.
ice. This technique is usually confined
to homicides, rapes, etc., in which
available evidence indicates possible
mental deficiency or aberration on the
part of the perpetrator. Cases will be
profiled on a time available basis,
with the more severe cases being
given priority. It should also be under-
stood that analysis is for lead value
only, and clinical opinions will not be
offered. Cases which, in the opinion of
the Training Division, fail to meet these
criteria will be returned to the request-
ing agency. Under no circumstances
should physical evidence be trans-
mitted to the Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation, since the possibility exists that
information received may not be re-
turned to the agency.
An agency requesting a psycho-
logical profile should contact the
Federal Bureau of Investigation field
office located within the territory of the
department and provide to them the
information as requested herein. The
agency should make it known to the
field office that they are requesting a
psychological profile from the Behav-
ioral Science Unit, Training Division.
FBI
Footnotes
James Q. Wilson, Varieties 0! Police Behavior Cam-
bridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1968!, p. 30.
George G. Killinger and Paul F. Cromwell, Issues in Law
Enforcement Boston: l-lolbrook Press, 1975!, p. 212.
Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Lan-
guage New York: The World Publishing Company, 1978!,
p. 1163.
Walter C. Langer, The Mind of Adolph Hitler New York:
Basic Books, lnc., 1972!, James C. Coleman, Abnormal Psychology and Modern
Lile Glenview, lll.: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1980!.
Son ol Sam: Implications for Psychiatry letter!, Ameri-
can Journal of Psychiatry, 135 !: 131. Jan. 1978. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2d
ed., Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association,
1966!
Coleman, pp. 3-23, J. V. McConnell, Understanding Human Behavior New
York: Holt, Flinehart, and Wilson, lnc., 1974!, p. 25.
° Sherrill Whiton, Elements of interior Design and Decora-
tion New York; J.B. Lippincott Company, 1963!, p. 751." R. Brittain, The Sadistic Murderer, Medical Science and
the Law. Vol. 10, 1970, pp. 198-204; Donald Lunde,
Murder and Madness San Francisco: San Francisco Book
Company, lnc., 1976!." The Encyclopedia of Philosophy New York: Macmillan
Company, 1967!, Vol. 8, p. 307.
'=|<*>|<>z<**>i=
SEXUAL HOMICIDE
Sexual Homicide: A Motivational ModelSexual Killers and Their Victims:Identifying Patterns Through Crime Scene AnalysisMurderers Who Rape and MutilateA The Men Who MurderedThe Split Reality of Murder' S nes:Classifying Sexual Homicide Crime ce
9Interrater ReliabilityCrime Scene and Prole Characteristics
ofOrganized and Disorganized MurderersInterviewing Techniques for Homicide Investigations
The Lust Murderere-Murder: One Offender and Twelve Victims
RapeandRap
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32
1~:?°~*:1'¢X';;;, »92Q
THE FORUM
The Forum presents major reviews of empirical research, theoretical conceptual
formulations, or manuscripts of major significance to the eld.
The findings from this exploratory study are reported in terms of the descriptiveb It ound characteristics of 36 sexual murderers, their behaviors and experiences inac grconnection with their developmental stages, and the central role of sadistic fantasy andA ' h motiva-critical cognitive structures that support the act of sexual murder. five-p asetional model is presented: I! ineffective SOCltll environment, ! formative events, !critical personal traits and cognitive mapping process, ! action toward others and
self, and ! feedback filter.
Sexual Homicide
A Motivational Model
ANN W. BURGESS
University of Pennsylvania
CAROL R. HARTMAN
Boston College
ROBERT K. RESSLER
IOHN E. DOUGLAS
FBI Academy
ARLENE MCCORMACK
University of Lowell
For many years, motiveless murder has baffled law enforcement officials and
mental health professionals Satten, Menninger, Rosen, 8c Mayman, 1960!.Motiveless killings, usually serial in nature carried out by a single individual
over a period of time!, leave virtually no clues about the murderers motive or
Authors Note" Preparation of this article was supported by Department of justicedgrants: Office of -juvenile justice and Delinquency Prevention #84-_]N-K010! anNational Institute of justice #82-CX-0065!. We wish to acknowledge gratefullyAllen G. Burgess, Marieanne L. Clark, and Mary Francis ]ett for contributions to this
article.
JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, Vol. l No. 3, September I986 251-272
6 l986 Sage Publications, lnc.
39